When wireless earbuds hit the market for the first time, athletes didn’t have plenty of options since most of them were average.
However, after extensive research, renowned companies like Apple managed to carve a niche for themselves by delivering a series of top-quality true wireless earbuds.
Still, these AirPods couldn’t withstand athletes’ excessive movement and were not sweat or water-resistant. For this reason, new companies stepped into the scene and started releasing buds that were designed with workout enthusiasts in mind.
The Jabra Elite Sport is an example of a pair created with runners and workout freaks in mind. These earbuds boast a sturdy and rugged design and a handful of nifty software enhancements.
The highlights are the in-ear heart rate sensor, updated battery, and a feature-filled app that allows you to track your progress and customize your exercises.
Unfortunately, these are not the most comfortable wireless earbuds, and their companion app seems a little too detailed and can be confusing at times.
Let’s delve deep into the Jabra Elite Sports review and see what this pair of headphones have to offer.
Jabra Elite Sport True Wireless Earbuds Overview
Key Features
- The IP67 water resistance rating makes the pair splashproof and sweatproof.
- Advanced in-ear-heartrate sensors allow you to track a workout, run, or bike-riding session.
- A powerful battery gives you up to 4.5 hours and an extra 9 hours on the charging case.
- Four digital MEMS microphones that integrate advanced noise cancellation technology.
- Jabra Elite Sport app allows you to adjust your sound to your liking.
Specifications
- Bluetooth: 4.1
- Wireless Range: Up to 33 feet
- Battery: up to 4.5 hours and extra 9 hours on the charging case
- Recharge Time: Approximately 2 hours
- Construction Material: plastic, foam material, silicone
- Weight: 6.5g per earbud, charging case 67g
- Integrated Microphone, controls
- Supports Jabra companion app and third-party apps
- Water Resistance: IP67
Factors That We Considered For This Review
To compile this detailed Jabra Elite Sport review, these are some of the factors we considered:
Unique Features
With the vast range of wireless headphones in the market, athletes want to ensure that they are not buying earbuds with mediocre features. This review takes into consideration the cutting-edge features that will excite all types of athletes.
Performance
We also seek to understand how the Jabra Elite Sport performs compared to other wireless earbuds in its price range. No matter the depth in features and function, performance is the most integral consideration for most athletes.
Price
This review seeks to understand how the Jabra Elite Sport is priced and whether it provides you with value for money.
Battery Range
Athletes look for wireless earbuds that boast enough battery power to last them through their workout sessions without the need to be recharged now and then. For this reason, we want to help you understand how the battery performs before you make a buying decision.
Design and Comfort
The Jabra Elite Sport earbuds are reasonably large, but this is understandable considering the number of features and functions baked into these earbuds.
In addition to the in-built mics, battery, drivers, radio, and control hardware, the buds are also packed with a complete suite of heartbeat and accelerometer sensors.
However, they still maintain a rugged design that perfectly aligns with its sporty aesthetics.
You will also love their premium and sturdy-looking case that is sizeable enough to fit into most pockets. These are actual wireless buds designed for all kinds of ears, but to get a secure fit, you need to find the right combo of ear tips and wingtips.
The elite sport buds come with three silicon ear wings to keep them put and a trio of foam and silicone ear tips in mall (S) medium(M) and large (L) sizes.
Overall, if you get the right combination of ear tips and wingtips, these headphones will give you a secure fit and won’t fall at any point.
However, the Jabra Elite Sport wireless earbuds are not comfortable to wear for extended periods due to their bulkiness.
Both earpieces come with two buttons each; the left one has controls for volume and track skipping, while the right earpiece is equipped with a multifunction play/pause, call button, and sports function button.
The only problem is trying to press any buttons can be painful since it feels like jabbing a cotton bud forcefully into the skin of the ear.
For those who fancy working out in the rain, you’d be glad to learn that the pair is IP67 certified, meaning that they are sweatproof and waterproof.
There’s also an intuitive “HearThrough” Mode that allows ambient noise from the surrounding. This helps you stay safe when you’re running or biking on the road or in the wild.
Controls
The Jabra Elite Sport comes with physical controls are located on each earbud. Unfortunately, they are not touch-sensitive, so you have to use extra strength when pressing them.
The power/call/play/pause button and the sports function button are on the right earbud. Double tapping the power/play button activates the “HearThrough” mode.
The left earbud comes with volume and track-skipping buttons. The “+” button adds volume when you press it once and skips to the next track when you hold. On the other hand, the “-“button lowers the volume and rewinds tracks.
The primary earbud connects with your smartphone via Bluetooth when it’s within 33 feet, while the second earbud switches on automatically when it’s within the range of the primary bud. The two wireless buds communicate using a technology dubbed as near field magnetic induction.
Sound Quality
There’s a kind of warmth and richness that you like to hear from any music coming from your headphones when working out.
Although the Jabra Elite Sport wireless earbuds deliver such, the sound quality can’t match what you’d get from top-range wired in-ear headphones.
However, you’ll note that, unlike other wireless earbuds that go full blast on the bass and forget everything else, the Jabra Elite Sport comes with a nice balance of bass and mid.
The headphones deliver incredibly thumping bass but in a well-controlled manner that doesn’t drown the rest of the frequencies. The mids and highs come through nicely but not with refined clarity.
We can’t also fail to mention that the pair comes with a HearThrough mode that allows the exterior ambient noise to pass through.
This means you’ll know when a wild animal or car is approaching when you’re riding or running. Of course, the exterior sound is a little bit muffled, but if your volume is not full blast, you won’t miss the uniquely audible sounds from the surrounding.
Unfortunately, the Jabra Elite Sport app doesn’t feature any adjustable controls to help you customize your sound. This means that even if the bass, treble, and frequency feel a little bit unbalanced, you’ll have to stick with the audio profile provided by Jabra.
Microphone
Top-quality headphones should allow you to take calls even when you’re in the middle of your workout session.
Luckily, Jabra Elite Sport integrates four-microphone call technology to ensure that athletes listen to music and take calls effortlessly.
Each earbud features two microphones that work together to filter background noise, ensuring that you enjoy your music and take your calls without any distractions.
Furthermore, the microphones help you listen to exterior sounds when the “HearThrough” mode is activated.
Battery Life
Jabra Elite Sport’s battery life may not be the most outstanding, but it’s better than most of its competitors.
When fully charged, the earbuds give you up to 4.5 hours of uninterrupted music as you work out. Conversely, the case gives you an extra 9 hours to ensure that you don’t cut your session midway. On average, this pair provides you up to 13.5 hours of mind-blogging musical experience.
The Jabra Elite Sport wireless earbuds take 2 hours to charge fully. Like many other wireless headphones, this pair is plugged onto the case via a micro-USB cable.
And since the earbuds can drain the power from the case until it’s flat, you need to keep your eyes on the LED lights on the front and on one side of the case to know when the buds are full or when the case needs a recharge.
Additional Features
Heartrate Monitoring
One of the highlights of the Jabra Elite Sport wireless earbuds is the in-ear heart rate monitor. The buds are fitted with sensors that monitor the heartbeat and deliver a plethora of athlete-focused features.
The sensors work with the Jabra Elite Sport companion app to provide VO2 Max fitness level testing, race predictor, and recovery advisor.
The Jabra Elite Sport App
Their companion app is packed to the brim for those who want to get more out of the Jabra Elite Sport headphones.
Although it lacks manual controls to adjust the equalizer, the app boasts a pre-set audio profile to get you on the groove. It also allows you to download firmware updates to enhance the hardware.
Because the Elite Sport earbuds feature a built-in heart rate monitor, you can use the app to perform a series of functions.
Based on the heart rate, the app can show you how intensive a workout is and provide insights.
It also calculates the distance, pace, and intensity score and compares it to the average. You can also leverage the app to build customized circuits from various exercises.
HearThrough Mode
Impressively, the Elite Sport comes with a HearThrough Mode that allows you to stay in touch with the environment when you’re working out.
When activated, the feature switches off the digital microphones, thereby disabling the noise-canceling ability and allowing you to hear background noises such as a car hoot when you’re riding on the road.
Waterproofing
The Jabra Elite Sport is rated with IP67 for water resistance. This means that this pair can withstand sweat when you’re working out and all water splashes from the rain or tap.
What We Liked
- State-of-the-art features and functions. The Jabra Elite Sport boasts a handful of advanced functions, including heart rate monitoring, MMMS technology, and HearThrough mode.
- Intuitive Jabra Elite Sport app. This app boasts integrated training management that allows you to keep tabs on your workout regimen and provide insights into improving it.
- Rugged and sporty design. The Jabra Elite Sport comes with a solid yet aesthetically appealing design that perfectly befits a pair of headphones with its functionality.
- Impressive battery life. This pair gives you up to 4.5 hours of calls and music and extra 9 hours from the portable charging case.
What We Didn’t Like
- Uncomfortable when used for long. Due to the bulkiness and size, the Jabra Elite Sport earbuds are painful to wear for long periods
- The app lacks controls to adjust equalizers. You can’t customize the sound and only have to stick to a single pre-set profile.
Jabra Elite Sport True Wireless Earbuds Comparisons
Jabra Elite Sport vs. Jabra Elite Active 75t
Although the Elite Active 75t lacks the heart rate monitor, it’s rated with IP57 for water resistance and adorns a more compact design.
It also comes with extended battery life and more responsive button controls.
If you have no use for a heart rate monitor, the Elite 75t is the best alternative.
Jabra Elite Sport vs. Samsung Gear IconX
Like Jabra Elite Sport, the Gear IconX boasts in-ear sensors that measure your heart rate, analyze your fitness, track workouts, and sync back to the proprietary S Health app.
It also boasts superior sound quality. However, they are only rated with IPX2 and only give you 5 hours compared to Elite Sport’s IP67 and 13.5 hours.
Jabra Elite Sport vs. Apple AirPods
When it comes to design, the Apple AirPods don’t compare to the Jabra Elite Sport.
While the pair is cheaper than the Jabra Elite Sport, they deliver more refined audio quality than Apple AirPods.
Final Thoughts
When you look at the Elite Sport’s design, its cutting-edge technology, and superior Bluetooth connection, you’ll understand why Jabra is regarded as one of the top wireless headphones manufacturers in the world.
Thanks to the triple-sized tips and fins, the Elite Sport gives you a secure fit no matter the size of your ears. Its heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth connection are also incredible.
While the sound quality may not be that impeccable, the little blast of bass will make your workout session a boom.
If you’re looking for true wireless headphones that monitor your heart rate and allow you to enjoy pulsating musical experience as you work out, Jabra Elite Sport is a real gem.
Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is through constantly challenging yourself.
